It would seem that my son recently initiated a debate on Facebook stemming from a discussion from a class at SPU. The topic was Romanticism vs. Post-romanticism. You can view his thoughts on his blog at:
http://seraphmessenger.blogspot.com/
I wanted to add a couple of thoughts to it. His post shows him to be a hopeless romantic. While I won't claim to have instilled this in him, I have to say that I find it very enlightening and encouraging that he feels this way. You see, I have to come out of the closet as well - his Dad is a hopeless romantic, too.
I told him today that the day that he lets go of his romantic tendencies is the day that he should apply for his credentials as a zombie. I know that romance is an integral part of who I am. The joy I feel in the romantic moments with my wife are ephemeral. Maybe I'm confusing it with the overarching concept of love, but I also have "romantic" feelings towards my children. There are times when I just enjoy doing things for all of them, moments when I find it completely gratifying to let them know how much they mean to me.
Romance to me is a need, a compulsion, to let my loved ones know how much they mean to me. It is a never ending need because I'm never able to fully express it - I never have the perfectly right words, the perfectly right deeds. And yet I am compelled to continue in the effort. In ways I liken it to worship - the compulsion to communicate to God how much his love, his grace means to me. I don't have the ability to fully express that either, but it doesn't stop me from trying. Romance makes me alive!
Without romance there is no hope. Life devolves into blatant cynicism. It becomes a dark, empty existence. With romance there is joy, there is love, there is a reason for living. No, the object of our romance does not always respond to the overtures, but we should never let go of the desire to express it. To do so would be an abject surrender to a darker existence.
So at the expense of blatant plagiarism, here is the familiar poem from Elizabeth Barrett Browning:
How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.
I love thee to the level of everyday's
Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.
I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;
I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.
I love thee with a passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints, --- I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life! --- and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.
May 6, 2009
February 8, 2009
The Bottom Line
And so, my dear friends & family, I come before you to humbly ask for your support. As I said in the Uganda Bound post, this IS the Great Adventure. Ostensibly, the purpose for the trip is to help others who are far less fortunate than I. I honestly believe, however, that God has some profound lessons for me to learn on this, and I sincerely hope it brings some convinctions about possibilities for me to live more simply.
I wouldn't have even been approached, however, if my lovely daughter Samantha wasn't going on the trip as well. First and foremost, I ask you to pray for us. Please pray for the safety of our team and those we will be working with. Pray for open hearts - both on the part of the Ugandans we'll encounter and for us. Pray that the entire trip brings glory to our Lord.
If you haven't spent much time talking to God for a while, this might be an opportunity to re-engage.
The costs for the trip are somewhat daunting at $5,000. It requires a massive gulp & swallow when that cost is doubled for both of us, however. If you feel led to help us financially, I would certainly like to encourage that. There are two ways of accomplishing that.
1. You can send a check to:
Eternal Impact Ministries, PO BOX 250 Oregon City, Oregon 97045
If you choose this method, please do NOT write anyone's name (mine or Samantha's) on the check, but rather enclose a short note to indicate that it is for whichever one of us you choose on the Rolling Hills Impact Team.
2. Go to eternalimpact.org - You will see a selection in the middle of the home page for "On Line Giving". Click that, then select Rolling Hills Impact Team Members. You can then select either of our names, and any credit card/ debit card payments will be credited towards our costs.
Whichever method you might choose, please send me an email - dale@apollo-7.com - to let me know so that I can properly thank you.
The gifts - at least for my US friends - is tax deductible. I'm not sure about the laws in Canada.
I would also like to encourage you to peruse the Eternal Impact site to find out more about them, and tune back into it during our visit - June 18 through July 5, 2009 - to read blog updates of our adventures.
Thank you for considering this and taking the time to read my posts!
Dale
I wouldn't have even been approached, however, if my lovely daughter Samantha wasn't going on the trip as well. First and foremost, I ask you to pray for us. Please pray for the safety of our team and those we will be working with. Pray for open hearts - both on the part of the Ugandans we'll encounter and for us. Pray that the entire trip brings glory to our Lord.
If you haven't spent much time talking to God for a while, this might be an opportunity to re-engage.
The costs for the trip are somewhat daunting at $5,000. It requires a massive gulp & swallow when that cost is doubled for both of us, however. If you feel led to help us financially, I would certainly like to encourage that. There are two ways of accomplishing that.
1. You can send a check to:
Eternal Impact Ministries, PO BOX 250 Oregon City, Oregon 97045
If you choose this method, please do NOT write anyone's name (mine or Samantha's) on the check, but rather enclose a short note to indicate that it is for whichever one of us you choose on the Rolling Hills Impact Team.
2. Go to eternalimpact.org - You will see a selection in the middle of the home page for "On Line Giving". Click that, then select Rolling Hills Impact Team Members. You can then select either of our names, and any credit card/ debit card payments will be credited towards our costs.
Whichever method you might choose, please send me an email - dale@apollo-7.com - to let me know so that I can properly thank you.
The gifts - at least for my US friends - is tax deductible. I'm not sure about the laws in Canada.
I would also like to encourage you to peruse the Eternal Impact site to find out more about them, and tune back into it during our visit - June 18 through July 5, 2009 - to read blog updates of our adventures.
Thank you for considering this and taking the time to read my posts!
Dale
February 7, 2009
Heaven to Earth. Heaven to Earth. Over.
I have to tell you that you're likely to read the word "Uganda" in this blog extensively over the next few months. I'm not going to apologize for that, however.
The concept of being "spoken to by God" is a difficult one for many to deal with. Quite frankly, that includes many Christians. If it puts anyone's heart at ease, let me tell you unequivocally that I have never heard a voice in my head saying "God to Dale. God to Dale. Come in Dale." I have never witnessed a ball of fire with words emanating from it, nor have I been struck to the ground and blinded a la Paul.
I must also tell you, however, that I know - beyond a shadow of a doubt - that I am being called by Him to go on this trip. If you could see or experience my thoughts, you would know that I have always been very resistant to the idea of "mission trips", particularly ones outside of the US. Call it rebellion, call it whatever you like, but I've always fought the notion fiercely. Justifications like "Why should we be going to Africa to bring people to the Lord when there are so many people in this country who need Him?" ran roughshod through my head. The mere fact that I entertained the notion at all confirms to me that He is sending me.
The previous post in here gives you a "stream of consciousness" of when the decision was actually made for me, but there was one other little epiphany that happened as well. Prior to me telling Branden that I was "in", we were watching a video of a previous trip made by Eternal Impact. The high school kids and adults were interacting with the Ugandan kids. One shot was of an American adult male, from behind, crouched down talking to a small Ugandan child. The man's hair had been buzzed off very short. Another excerpt of the "stream" went something like this:
Dale's Heart: Hey, it's going to be hot over there. I'm going to get my hair buzzed like that before I go as well.
Dale's Head: What in the world are you talking about? What's this "before I go" crap? You're not going, so why are you thinking about what you're going to do with your hair, for crying out loud? You don't DO mission trips, remember?
See, if I've learned anything over the 25+ years of my Christian life, it's that He helps to show me my own hypocrisies and prejudices, and that often forces decisions on me. Has He showed me all of them? Yeah, right. I expect to keep learning right up until the day I leave this earth to join Him. Nevertheless, I am compelled to take action on them when He does bring them out.
The concept of being "spoken to by God" is a difficult one for many to deal with. Quite frankly, that includes many Christians. If it puts anyone's heart at ease, let me tell you unequivocally that I have never heard a voice in my head saying "God to Dale. God to Dale. Come in Dale." I have never witnessed a ball of fire with words emanating from it, nor have I been struck to the ground and blinded a la Paul.
I must also tell you, however, that I know - beyond a shadow of a doubt - that I am being called by Him to go on this trip. If you could see or experience my thoughts, you would know that I have always been very resistant to the idea of "mission trips", particularly ones outside of the US. Call it rebellion, call it whatever you like, but I've always fought the notion fiercely. Justifications like "Why should we be going to Africa to bring people to the Lord when there are so many people in this country who need Him?" ran roughshod through my head. The mere fact that I entertained the notion at all confirms to me that He is sending me.
The previous post in here gives you a "stream of consciousness" of when the decision was actually made for me, but there was one other little epiphany that happened as well. Prior to me telling Branden that I was "in", we were watching a video of a previous trip made by Eternal Impact. The high school kids and adults were interacting with the Ugandan kids. One shot was of an American adult male, from behind, crouched down talking to a small Ugandan child. The man's hair had been buzzed off very short. Another excerpt of the "stream" went something like this:
Dale's Heart: Hey, it's going to be hot over there. I'm going to get my hair buzzed like that before I go as well.
Dale's Head: What in the world are you talking about? What's this "before I go" crap? You're not going, so why are you thinking about what you're going to do with your hair, for crying out loud? You don't DO mission trips, remember?
See, if I've learned anything over the 25+ years of my Christian life, it's that He helps to show me my own hypocrisies and prejudices, and that often forces decisions on me. Has He showed me all of them? Yeah, right. I expect to keep learning right up until the day I leave this earth to join Him. Nevertheless, I am compelled to take action on them when He does bring them out.
November 25, 2008
Uganda Bound
So, I show up at church to pick up my daughter last Wednesday, and am accosted by Branden, the High School Pastor.
Branden: Hey Dale - on our upcoming trip to Uganda, we plan to do some dramas. I know that you mentioned that this was a neglected area of HSM, so you're the first one I thought of. Would you be willing to pray about helping us develop some sketches, etc. and - Holy Spirit willing - maybe join us on the trip?
Dale’s Mouth: Yeah, okay. I'll pray.
Dale’s Head: I'm 49 years old, and have successfully avoided going on any mission trips for the entire 26 years of my Christian life. Sure. I'll pray. Don't getcher hopes up too high, Pal.
So I'm sitting in the Fellowship Center on Sunday, and the "Chasing Daylight" campaign gets mentioned. That, of course, sets off a whole 'nother mind pattern. See, I had some significant issues with the campaign. I much prefer the simpler, more straightforward message that came from Steven Curtis Chapman in "The Great Adventure".
"Saddle up your horses, we got a trail to blaze
Through the wild blue yonder, of God's amazing grace!
We'll follow our Leader into the glorious unknown
This is a life like no other, whoa! this is The Great Adventure!"
As a matter of fact, that song has been our family’s “theme song” for about 12 years now. So this argument starts up in my head.
Dale’s Heart: So, do you really believe that? You’ve claimed The Great Adventure, the glorious unknown, for several years now. Shoot, you named your company after it. But do you really believe it?
Dale’s Head: Sure I do, but this is different. This isn’t unknown. This is heading off to some strange 3rd world country. Been there, done that, Dude. Remember that brutal series of trips to Mexico City back in 01? Do you really want to go through THAT again?
Dale’s Heart: Excuses – Gee, how did I know those would be coming? Those were business trips, and you ventured in there all alone. You weren’t there to minister for Christ, you were there to implement software. The question is still hanging there, Bucko - do you really believe it?.
Dale’s Head: Ah, c’mon Man!
Dale’s Mouth (to wife): This seat is killing me. I’m going to stand up.
Dale’s Feet, after a few minutes, start moving across the room towards Branden.
Dale’s Head: Hey! Heyheyheyheyhey! What are you doing?! Where do you think you’re going?! Stop it! Who’s in charge here anyway? Stop I say! STOP!
Dale’s Mouth (having a hard time maintaining composure): Hey Man. I’m terrified, but I’m in. (Branden administers a hug) I’m being dragged kicking and screaming, but I’m in.
Branden: I think that’s the way it has to be.
Dale’s Mouth: I’m 49 years old and have never done anything like this.
Branden: Neither have I, so we’re in this together!
Dale’s Head: NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dale’s Heart: Yessss! Here we go folks. THIS is The Great Adventure! ‘Bout bloomin time we stepped out!
Branden: Hey Dale - on our upcoming trip to Uganda, we plan to do some dramas. I know that you mentioned that this was a neglected area of HSM, so you're the first one I thought of. Would you be willing to pray about helping us develop some sketches, etc. and - Holy Spirit willing - maybe join us on the trip?
Dale’s Mouth: Yeah, okay. I'll pray.
Dale’s Head: I'm 49 years old, and have successfully avoided going on any mission trips for the entire 26 years of my Christian life. Sure. I'll pray. Don't getcher hopes up too high, Pal.
So I'm sitting in the Fellowship Center on Sunday, and the "Chasing Daylight" campaign gets mentioned. That, of course, sets off a whole 'nother mind pattern. See, I had some significant issues with the campaign. I much prefer the simpler, more straightforward message that came from Steven Curtis Chapman in "The Great Adventure".
"Saddle up your horses, we got a trail to blaze
Through the wild blue yonder, of God's amazing grace!
We'll follow our Leader into the glorious unknown
This is a life like no other, whoa! this is The Great Adventure!"
As a matter of fact, that song has been our family’s “theme song” for about 12 years now. So this argument starts up in my head.
Dale’s Heart: So, do you really believe that? You’ve claimed The Great Adventure, the glorious unknown, for several years now. Shoot, you named your company after it. But do you really believe it?
Dale’s Head: Sure I do, but this is different. This isn’t unknown. This is heading off to some strange 3rd world country. Been there, done that, Dude. Remember that brutal series of trips to Mexico City back in 01? Do you really want to go through THAT again?
Dale’s Heart: Excuses – Gee, how did I know those would be coming? Those were business trips, and you ventured in there all alone. You weren’t there to minister for Christ, you were there to implement software. The question is still hanging there, Bucko - do you really believe it?.
Dale’s Head: Ah, c’mon Man!
Dale’s Mouth (to wife): This seat is killing me. I’m going to stand up.
Dale’s Feet, after a few minutes, start moving across the room towards Branden.
Dale’s Head: Hey! Heyheyheyheyhey! What are you doing?! Where do you think you’re going?! Stop it! Who’s in charge here anyway? Stop I say! STOP!
Dale’s Mouth (having a hard time maintaining composure): Hey Man. I’m terrified, but I’m in. (Branden administers a hug) I’m being dragged kicking and screaming, but I’m in.
Branden: I think that’s the way it has to be.
Dale’s Mouth: I’m 49 years old and have never done anything like this.
Branden: Neither have I, so we’re in this together!
Dale’s Head: NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dale’s Heart: Yessss! Here we go folks. THIS is The Great Adventure! ‘Bout bloomin time we stepped out!
September 29, 2008
Seasons Change
My family has just gone through one of those important milestones in life. My wife and I took our first born and dropped him off at college last week. To nobody’s surprise, my mind and emotions have been engaged in a gymnastics tournament throughout the whole process.
To begin with, we are absolutely thrilled with the college that he chose and the experiences that we have had there. This school has rejected the traditional notion of parents dropping off their freshmen student and leaving. They have developed a 2 day program where the parents are walked through the process of what they will be teaching the students, what types of ministries are available, what service opportunities the students will have and what school services are available. Every step of the way we had faculty and administration officials – up to and including the President of the University – thanking us for entrusting our son to them. There wasn’t a single one of these people who projected insincerity in any form.
The temptation is obviously to look at this like we’re the first parents who have ever experienced this type of event. Whether it is sending a child off to college, off to the military or off into the work world, however, it is an experience that virtually every parent goes through in one form or another. It is exciting. It causes anxiety. It brings us great pride in our son. It even causes a certain level of mild fear.
As I contemplated all of this over the weekend, I tried to bring some perspective to my thoughts and feelings. It so happens that my business partner down in California helped in this regard.
His wife is about to give birth to their second child. The already have a lovely 3 year old girl, and it appears number two is to be a boy. They are understandably excited about the prospect. In around 15 years, they will undergo a similar experience to what my wife and I are currently walking. Around 3 years later, the young man about to be born will then take his turn. My partner and his wife have the same excitement, anxiety, pride and fear to look forward to.
I then started thinking about the faculty and administration of the college thanking us for putting our trust in them to help continue the education of our son, how they were honored by our trust. I thought back to his birth and the first time I held him in my arms, and I realized that there are more similarities to these events than I originally thought.
Quite simply, when our son was born the Lord placed him into our hands to allow us to raise him and educate him. I didn’t express it at that point, but I am so very thankful that He entrusted this young man to us. We were deeply honored to have been allowed to raise him and educate him to this point. The important thing for us to remember, however, is that he belongs to God. Always has, always will. Our Father entrusted him to us for a season, but that season has now changed and it is time for the next.
The final piece of the 2 day event was the Convocation. It was held in the school Pavilion (gymnasium), and began with a set of bagpipes escorting in all of the faculty of the school, dressed in full academic regalia. After prayer, a message on Communitas and the singing of a hymn (Be Thou My Vision), the faculty formed a circle around the perimeter of the gym. The new students were then invited to come down out of the bleachers and enter the circle where they were welcomed by the faculty. It was a physical symbol of our son leaving our home and joining the new community of the University. Very poignant. I’ll admit that my sunglasses snapped onto my face as we left the building to hide my tears!
So yes, the occasion has affected me deeply. I take comfort, however, in the thought that we have now entrusted our charge back into God’s hands. He never really left.
To begin with, we are absolutely thrilled with the college that he chose and the experiences that we have had there. This school has rejected the traditional notion of parents dropping off their freshmen student and leaving. They have developed a 2 day program where the parents are walked through the process of what they will be teaching the students, what types of ministries are available, what service opportunities the students will have and what school services are available. Every step of the way we had faculty and administration officials – up to and including the President of the University – thanking us for entrusting our son to them. There wasn’t a single one of these people who projected insincerity in any form.
The temptation is obviously to look at this like we’re the first parents who have ever experienced this type of event. Whether it is sending a child off to college, off to the military or off into the work world, however, it is an experience that virtually every parent goes through in one form or another. It is exciting. It causes anxiety. It brings us great pride in our son. It even causes a certain level of mild fear.
As I contemplated all of this over the weekend, I tried to bring some perspective to my thoughts and feelings. It so happens that my business partner down in California helped in this regard.
His wife is about to give birth to their second child. The already have a lovely 3 year old girl, and it appears number two is to be a boy. They are understandably excited about the prospect. In around 15 years, they will undergo a similar experience to what my wife and I are currently walking. Around 3 years later, the young man about to be born will then take his turn. My partner and his wife have the same excitement, anxiety, pride and fear to look forward to.
I then started thinking about the faculty and administration of the college thanking us for putting our trust in them to help continue the education of our son, how they were honored by our trust. I thought back to his birth and the first time I held him in my arms, and I realized that there are more similarities to these events than I originally thought.
Quite simply, when our son was born the Lord placed him into our hands to allow us to raise him and educate him. I didn’t express it at that point, but I am so very thankful that He entrusted this young man to us. We were deeply honored to have been allowed to raise him and educate him to this point. The important thing for us to remember, however, is that he belongs to God. Always has, always will. Our Father entrusted him to us for a season, but that season has now changed and it is time for the next.
The final piece of the 2 day event was the Convocation. It was held in the school Pavilion (gymnasium), and began with a set of bagpipes escorting in all of the faculty of the school, dressed in full academic regalia. After prayer, a message on Communitas and the singing of a hymn (Be Thou My Vision), the faculty formed a circle around the perimeter of the gym. The new students were then invited to come down out of the bleachers and enter the circle where they were welcomed by the faculty. It was a physical symbol of our son leaving our home and joining the new community of the University. Very poignant. I’ll admit that my sunglasses snapped onto my face as we left the building to hide my tears!
So yes, the occasion has affected me deeply. I take comfort, however, in the thought that we have now entrusted our charge back into God’s hands. He never really left.
June 25, 2008
One of These Days
Has it really been over a year since I posted anything on here? Time sure flies when you get busy, but thanks to my sister-in-law, I realize that I have something I need to post.
I'm pretty sure I've mentioned it in here before, but I do some amateur acting at our church. I was asked to play a minor role in a dramatic sketch during our church services this last weekend, and it has had an unexpected impact on my life that I thought I'd share.
The sketch was titled "One Of These Days". The scene opens in a cemetery, with some mourners gathered around a grave and a couple of groundskeepers working on cleaning up a bench. As it progresses, it turns out that the groundskeepers are actually angels. After an initial discourse by them, the scene shifts to the minister who is presiding over the funeral. I was playing the minister.
I gave a pretty depressing little spiel:
"As for man, his days are like grass
As a flower in the field, so he flourishes
For the wind passes over it, and it is gone
And its place remembers it no more
Ashes to ashes, dust to dust
Another life comes to an end
Let us take a moment of silence"
One of the angels freezes time, and chides the pastor for not finishing the verse. "Psalm 103:15 goes on to say 'But the LORD'S kindness is forever, toward the faithful from age to age'. This is not the end. I think you need to go back to seminary." The angel then snaps everyone back in.
The grandson of the man who has died then starts to make some comments, but gets frustrated and walks off. The angel freezes the rest of us again and they (the angels) have a discussion with the grandson, reminding him of the immenense of the resurrection. The rest of the group is then unfrozen, the grandson returns and delivers a short, stirring discourse, and the band goes into "One Of These Days", the song made popular by FFH (the church band and singers did a fabulous job on this, by the way). Towards the end of the song, the angels - who have now changed into more heavenly garments - walk over to the grave and lift out the grandfather - who now has his new resurrection body. He has a brief reunion with his grandson and then walks out in glory.
The sketch was very well written and performed, and the effect on everyone present was, well, dramatic. I saw lots of tears - most of them through the blurriness of my own.
So this all happens at the 2 services on Sunday, June 22, 2008. I found out early in the morning of Tuesday, June 24 that a dear friend - David Diehl - had passed away the previous day. Dave was a young man - I don't know his exact age, but I'm pretty sure he was around 45. He was wise beyond his years, and possessed a dead pan wit that could level anyone. Dave has left behind a beautiful wife, Lori, and 2 daughters, Lexi 12 and Dani 7.
Dave was the Executive Pastor - basically the business executive - at the church we used to attend. My wife and I had been in a small group with them, attended numerous functions with them, visited each others homes, and generally enjoyed each other's company. Back then I still participated in making a fool out of myself on the golf course, and often did so in front of Dave. I remember one early morning outing with just the two of us, and we had a wonderful time relating our life stories with each other.
When I heard this news, my thoughts were immediately drawn back to the sketch. I know Dave loved the Lord, and I KNOW that he is now with the Lord. Every time I think about that sketch now, I picture him as the one who is pulled out of that grave - dressed in glorious white. He emerges with wonderful surprise, and walks over to Lori and his daughters. They are able to embrace one more time before he heads off to wait for them with our Lord. Even as I type these words, I'm having a difficult time seeing through my tears.
Oh, I have questions for God - why do Lori and the girls have to endure this? Why is he being taken so young? But I know now more than ever that I WILL see him again. More importantly, so will Lori, Lexi and Dani.
A final footnote on the sketch. Russ, the man who played the grandson who is grieving the loss of his grandfather, did a magnificent job with the role, and it was played completely from the heart. He lost his 12 year old daughter to cancer last year.
He WILL see her again.
Praises to our King!
I'm pretty sure I've mentioned it in here before, but I do some amateur acting at our church. I was asked to play a minor role in a dramatic sketch during our church services this last weekend, and it has had an unexpected impact on my life that I thought I'd share.
The sketch was titled "One Of These Days". The scene opens in a cemetery, with some mourners gathered around a grave and a couple of groundskeepers working on cleaning up a bench. As it progresses, it turns out that the groundskeepers are actually angels. After an initial discourse by them, the scene shifts to the minister who is presiding over the funeral. I was playing the minister.
I gave a pretty depressing little spiel:
"As for man, his days are like grass
As a flower in the field, so he flourishes
For the wind passes over it, and it is gone
And its place remembers it no more
Ashes to ashes, dust to dust
Another life comes to an end
Let us take a moment of silence"
One of the angels freezes time, and chides the pastor for not finishing the verse. "Psalm 103:15 goes on to say 'But the LORD'S kindness is forever, toward the faithful from age to age'. This is not the end. I think you need to go back to seminary." The angel then snaps everyone back in.
The grandson of the man who has died then starts to make some comments, but gets frustrated and walks off. The angel freezes the rest of us again and they (the angels) have a discussion with the grandson, reminding him of the immenense of the resurrection. The rest of the group is then unfrozen, the grandson returns and delivers a short, stirring discourse, and the band goes into "One Of These Days", the song made popular by FFH (the church band and singers did a fabulous job on this, by the way). Towards the end of the song, the angels - who have now changed into more heavenly garments - walk over to the grave and lift out the grandfather - who now has his new resurrection body. He has a brief reunion with his grandson and then walks out in glory.
The sketch was very well written and performed, and the effect on everyone present was, well, dramatic. I saw lots of tears - most of them through the blurriness of my own.
So this all happens at the 2 services on Sunday, June 22, 2008. I found out early in the morning of Tuesday, June 24 that a dear friend - David Diehl - had passed away the previous day. Dave was a young man - I don't know his exact age, but I'm pretty sure he was around 45. He was wise beyond his years, and possessed a dead pan wit that could level anyone. Dave has left behind a beautiful wife, Lori, and 2 daughters, Lexi 12 and Dani 7.
Dave was the Executive Pastor - basically the business executive - at the church we used to attend. My wife and I had been in a small group with them, attended numerous functions with them, visited each others homes, and generally enjoyed each other's company. Back then I still participated in making a fool out of myself on the golf course, and often did so in front of Dave. I remember one early morning outing with just the two of us, and we had a wonderful time relating our life stories with each other.
When I heard this news, my thoughts were immediately drawn back to the sketch. I know Dave loved the Lord, and I KNOW that he is now with the Lord. Every time I think about that sketch now, I picture him as the one who is pulled out of that grave - dressed in glorious white. He emerges with wonderful surprise, and walks over to Lori and his daughters. They are able to embrace one more time before he heads off to wait for them with our Lord. Even as I type these words, I'm having a difficult time seeing through my tears.
Oh, I have questions for God - why do Lori and the girls have to endure this? Why is he being taken so young? But I know now more than ever that I WILL see him again. More importantly, so will Lori, Lexi and Dani.
A final footnote on the sketch. Russ, the man who played the grandson who is grieving the loss of his grandfather, did a magnificent job with the role, and it was played completely from the heart. He lost his 12 year old daughter to cancer last year.
He WILL see her again.
Praises to our King!
June 9, 2007
Soon End In Joy
As you may have surmised from reading previous posts, music is a very important part of my life. Now, when it comes to performing the Lord definitely did NOT bless me with gifts in this field. With the help of a hoist, a dump truck and a cloud of witnesses surrounding me I can sing well enough for possibly 50% of the population to figure out the tune. With the exception of mucking through the required "recorder" production in the 5th grade (when everyone else in the class was bleating away as well), I've never been able to do anything with an instrument.
So for better or worse, I'm forced to rely on those who have been given gifts in this field to quench my needs. That's okay, because there is a multitude of people in this world who ARE gifted in musical talents.
Music for me, however, has often led the journeys of my soul. In the days before I became a Christian, I desperately sought music that would help me to "find my identity". I often sought out secular artists that would show me as being "cool and yet different from everyone else".
Upon accepting Christ as my Savior, however, I began to realize that music was so much more than being "all about me". I've come to understand that music speaks to each person differently than the next, much as God has created each person differently. I've also come to view musical gifts and talents as being gifts from Him and - like all gifts from our Lord - they carry responsibilities. I believe God created music as a tool for us to worship Him. Again - like all gifts from our Lord - musicians, singers and song writers have the choice as to whether or not to use them in this manner.
As my journey with Him has moved along, I find myself less and less inclined to listen to music that doesn't involve worshipping Him. Yes, my iPod has a few secular songs on it - primarily nostalgic songs that remind me of particular points in my life. The vast majority of music that I listen to, however, is by Christian artists who use their gifts to worship the Lord.
The group of artists whose work has touched me most deeply over the past couple of years is a group called Jars of Clay. They're often labeled as "alternative", so I find it rather ironic that one of their best works has been an album called "Redemption Songs". It is a collection of Jars' interpretation of old hymns.
Now please understand this about me - I really don't care for sitting in a church listening to soe of the old dirges. Having grown up outside of a church setting, I still feel the proper place for an organ is playing "Charge!" or "3 Blind Mice" at a hockey game. On this particular work, however, the artists have taken such old time classics as "It Is Well With My Soul" and "I'll Fly Away" and rearranged them to really strike a chord with modern tastes.
The one that has been touching me most deeply recently is "God Will Lift Up Your Head". This is a song originally written by Paul Gerhardt. I'm not sure when Paul wrote it, but it was translated into English by John Wesley, so it has to be over 200 year old. The lyrics can be viewed here, but I would strongly encourage the reader to stop into a music store or iTunes and listen to it.
http://www.jarchives.com/dgod_will_lift.htm
The verse at the end goes:
Through waves and clouds and storms,
He gently clears the way
Wait because in His time, so shall this night
Soon end in joy, soon end in joy
Soon end in joy, soon end in joy
So I'm listening to this a couple of weeks ago as I'm waiting to board a flight from Atlanta to Portland. "So shall this night, soon end in joy". What are my options here? I either arrive safely home to be with my wife and kids. So shall this night soon end in joy! What happens if the plane goes down? I'll be joining my Lord in Heaven! So shall this night soon end in joy!
So for better or worse, I'm forced to rely on those who have been given gifts in this field to quench my needs. That's okay, because there is a multitude of people in this world who ARE gifted in musical talents.
Music for me, however, has often led the journeys of my soul. In the days before I became a Christian, I desperately sought music that would help me to "find my identity". I often sought out secular artists that would show me as being "cool and yet different from everyone else".
Upon accepting Christ as my Savior, however, I began to realize that music was so much more than being "all about me". I've come to understand that music speaks to each person differently than the next, much as God has created each person differently. I've also come to view musical gifts and talents as being gifts from Him and - like all gifts from our Lord - they carry responsibilities. I believe God created music as a tool for us to worship Him. Again - like all gifts from our Lord - musicians, singers and song writers have the choice as to whether or not to use them in this manner.
As my journey with Him has moved along, I find myself less and less inclined to listen to music that doesn't involve worshipping Him. Yes, my iPod has a few secular songs on it - primarily nostalgic songs that remind me of particular points in my life. The vast majority of music that I listen to, however, is by Christian artists who use their gifts to worship the Lord.
The group of artists whose work has touched me most deeply over the past couple of years is a group called Jars of Clay. They're often labeled as "alternative", so I find it rather ironic that one of their best works has been an album called "Redemption Songs". It is a collection of Jars' interpretation of old hymns.
Now please understand this about me - I really don't care for sitting in a church listening to soe of the old dirges. Having grown up outside of a church setting, I still feel the proper place for an organ is playing "Charge!" or "3 Blind Mice" at a hockey game. On this particular work, however, the artists have taken such old time classics as "It Is Well With My Soul" and "I'll Fly Away" and rearranged them to really strike a chord with modern tastes.
The one that has been touching me most deeply recently is "God Will Lift Up Your Head". This is a song originally written by Paul Gerhardt. I'm not sure when Paul wrote it, but it was translated into English by John Wesley, so it has to be over 200 year old. The lyrics can be viewed here, but I would strongly encourage the reader to stop into a music store or iTunes and listen to it.
http://www.jarchives.com/dgod_will_lift.htm
The verse at the end goes:
Through waves and clouds and storms,
He gently clears the way
Wait because in His time, so shall this night
Soon end in joy, soon end in joy
Soon end in joy, soon end in joy
So I'm listening to this a couple of weeks ago as I'm waiting to board a flight from Atlanta to Portland. "So shall this night, soon end in joy". What are my options here? I either arrive safely home to be with my wife and kids. So shall this night soon end in joy! What happens if the plane goes down? I'll be joining my Lord in Heaven! So shall this night soon end in joy!
I was on a flight several years ago that was that was going through some pretty nasty turbulence, and an image came to my mind of God's hands holding up the wings. The comfort of that image stayed with me for a long time. Now, I'm comforted by "So shall this night soon end in joy."
Music is definitely one of God's gifts to my soul.
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